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The heaviness of life is generally felt in later years, when one friend after another has been called away, and only a name and a memory remains. But it was Amrei's lot to experience this in her youth; and it was she and Black Marianne who wept more bitterly than any of the others at the funeral of Farmer Rodel's wife.
Only in the house of Farmer Rodel were they glad to have her, for the farmer was her guardian. His wife, who had always taken Amrei's part and who had one day promised to take her into her service when she was older, was prevented from carrying out this plan. She herself was taken by another Death.
I shall merely look for a new position, and thank God that such a good man once wanted to have me for his wife; and I'll consider that it was not God's will that it should be so " Amrei's voice faltered, and her form seemed to dilate.
There her mother used to spin, and there she had put Amrei's little hands together and taught her to knit. "Come, children, let us go now," said the uncle. "It is not good to be here. Come with me to the baker and I will buy you each a white roll or do you like biscuits better?" "No, let us stay here a little longer," said Amrei; and she kept on stroking the place where her mother had sat.
And if, once in a while, anything should happen to you that you don't like, remember that you are at your father's brother's, and tell me about it alone. I will help you all I can, and you shall see that your real life is just beginning." Amrei's eyes filled with tears at these words; and yet she could say nothing, for she felt estranged toward this man.
The wife came out of another room, and Amrei's hands trembled; she would gladly have fallen upon her neck but she could not she dared not. Then the Farmer, bursting into laughter, said: "Just think, dame! Here's a girl from Haldenbrunn, and she has something to say to Farmer Landfried and his wife, but she won't tell me what it is. Now do you tell her what my name is."
While her going barefoot and having been a goose-girl caused her to be the victim of more or less raillery, still nobody meant it at all seriously unless it was Rose, Farmer Rodel's youngest daughter, who was jealous of Amrei's popularity. "There's a fire at Scheckennarre's, at Hirlingen!" was the cry outside. The engine was brought out, and Barefoot climbed upon it and rode away with the firemen.
Something crept across Amrei's face; she brushed it off it was a ladybird. She let it creep about on her hand, between the mountains and valleys of her fingers, until it came to the tip of her little-finger and flew away. "What a tale he'll have to tell about where he has been!" thought Amrei. "A little creature like that is well off indeed wherever it flies, it is at home.
As they ride along they talk and sing and tell stories and enjoy themselves as only lovers can. At Amrei's request, they stop on the way to see Damie, who is with Coaly Mathew in the forest; Amrei tells him all that has happened, and John promises to make him an independent herdsman, and gives him a silver-mounted pipe.
Never had a poor child been so much noticed in the village as was this little Amrei. But, as she grew older, less attention was paid to her, for people look with sympathetic eyes only at the blossom and the fruit, and disregard the long period of transition during which the one is ripening into the other. Before Amrei's school-days were over, Fate gave her a riddle that was difficult to solve.